‘Cats can’t overcome early BU lead

DURHAM — For the second time in less than two weeks the University of New Hampshire hockey team faced a three-goal deficit in the second period.

The Wildcats couldn’t come back this time in a 3-2 loss to Boston University just three days after being ranked No. 1 in the nation for the first time in almost six years.

The Terriers scored once in the first period and twice in the second to build a 3-0 lead Thursday night at the sold-out Whittemore Center.

UNH rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat then No. 2 Denver, 6-4, on the road Nov. 24.

The Wildcats dropped to 11-2-2 overall and 8-2-1 in Hockey East while No. 7 BU improved to 9-5-0 and 7-4-0.

“They were definitely a little hungrier than we were in the first period,” said senior forward John Henrion. “That’s not how we’ve been playing. We’ve got to get back to work on that.”

The Terriers also snapped UNH’s eight-game unbeaten streak in the teams’ final regular-season meeting. The Wildcats won the first two.

For the second time in less than a week BU knocked off the nation’s top-ranked team. The Terriers defeated then No. 1 Boston College last Friday.

Kevin Goumas scored a power-play goal to make it 3-1 in the second period.

Henrion closed the gap to 3-2 on wrister from the left circle with 8:06 remaining in the third after collecting the rebound of a Justin Agosta bid.

Henrion had a goal and an assist, and finished with a game-high seven shots on goal.

UNH pressed for the tying goal but couldn’t capitalize on a late power play. The Wildcats even pulled goalie Casey DeSmith (24 saves) for an extra skater and enjoyed a 6-on-4 advantage for more than a minute.

“I think we came out a little flat,” Goumas said. “They were winning stick battles and races to the puck. They were mentally tougher than us at the start and it showed.”

UNH outshot the Terriers, 33-27, including 23-16 over the final two periods.

BU led 3-1 after two periods. The Wildcats cut a 3-0 deficit to 3-1 on a power-play goal by Goumas, who beat BU goalie Matt O’Connor (31 saves) from a tough angle with 5:55 left in the second period.

Nick Sorkin and Henrion assisted. Sorkin helped set up both UNH goals.

The Terriers scored twice in the first 8:03 of the second period to extend a 1-0 lead to 3-0 on goals by Sahir Gill and Sam Kurker.

“We’ve been in that position a couple times this year,” Goumas said. “We just take it one goal at a time and chip away.”

“Everyone is confident,” Henrion said. “We get down a couple goals we don’t panic. We just couldn’t get the third one tonight.”

Gill capped a 2-on-1 rush with a backhand finish from Garrett Noonan to make it 2-0 at 4:01 of the second period.

Kurker made it 3-0 at the 8:03 mark. The Wildcats picked up the pace at that point and finally connected on the second of back-to-back power plays.

Goumas scored on a turnaround shot from low in the right circle just 16 seconds after Noonan was penalized for interference.

“There’s not a flaw in that team,” said BU coach Jack Parker. “For us to come up here and get a W is a terrific win for us.”

Wade Megan scored off a goal-mouth scramble to give BU a 1-0 lead at 4:39 of the first period, which ended that way.

Defenseman Matt Grzelcyk took a shot from the slot and Megan cleaned up the rebound. Cason Hohmann also assisted.

Six minor penalties were called in the first period, three on each team. The teams combined for seven more in the second.

“Spotting BU three goals is not a good formula,” said UNH coach Dick Umile. “The guys battled in the second and third periods. I liked the way they competed. We just came up short.”